The wolf had left Pirqua and trotted to a hill in the center of the land. Tilting back his head, the alabaster male howled deeply to call the Aspen grove pack together. They were going hunting, for themselves as their temporary allies, The Shadow Lurkers. As the Lurkers couldn't hunt for themselved through injuries, the had requested help, and he had to oblige.

She followed after Vestige, mindful to keep her head low as she spoke with him, "I've known the Ochotona Pack for a while; though I haven't been there in recent times. An old packmate of mine lives there; Kanan." She informed, before thinking over the other information he had given her. The rest of the pack names were familiar, but she no longer knew the members that lived there. "My own alliances lie with the Storm Valley pack. Vevisca was another packmate of mine. Aaka was temporarily..." To this, she scoffed slightly, having deep resentment for the snowy-white wolf that had been the third one to knock her down from alpha status. And oh, the Lurkers... they were responsible for her crippled hind leg, and had been the ones that held her hostage for several days until she was on the verge of death. Damn them! And the Haunters; she hated them as well - she never did trust Risen or Cavan when they were in her pack, and especially that crazy sister of his. It was odd that she was allianced to both sides, bt it suited her well. Until they found out, that is.

"You know, you remind me of Vevisca. He carries a similar wound as yours." Cortinarri remarked after a moment, looking to where Vestige was missing an eye. She tilted her head ever so slightly, looking almost coy as she gazed at the alpha. "Ah, never mind me. I do a lot of reflecting these days." The wolfess fell silent now as she neared Jagged. She was curious to get to know the others in the pack, and figure out who was related to who.

Vicious had done a number to her, but she had managed to survive the thrashing. She would now bear a multitude of scars on her shepherd-like hide, a reminder of her first 'real' battle.

Aminita was surprised to see Cortinarri, though she knew little of this wolf. Keeping herself low as usual, the hybrid stopped a short distance from Jagged. Tail partially tucked, she waited for further instructions.

Dove still had tears in her eyes as she approached Jagged. "What do you need?" She asked shakily.

Glider was at Dove's side, worrying about her, as always.

Vestige padded alonngside Cortinarri. When she mentioned Kanan, it prompted a vague figure in his mind. "I think I saw him at the recent fight, saying that I've never actually spoken to him..." The Storm Valley pack was mentioned, and Vestige made a note to send someone or to even go himself to set up a proper alliance between the packs. He noticed her looking at his blind eye and simply shrugged it off with a mumble of, "Risen did it."

Her comment on her reflections made him smile, "You're not the only one. I seem to look back more than I do forward. My past hasn't been kind to me..." He glanced at her legs where he had spotted her faint limp, "and your past doesn't seem to friendly either, am I right?"

Jagged woofed a greeting to his father with a quick tail wag, but gazed curiously at Cortinarri. However he didn't press the matter as the other members began to arrive. He smiled at Aminita, but it became sympathetic as he saw Dove.

Vestige nudged Cortinarri and dropped his voice to a whisper. "That's Dove," he mumbled, indicating the sorrowful femme, "She just lost her mate, Canis Rex, in the fight. The dog next to her is her father, Glider. The female further away is Aminita, she related to the Lurkers, I believe. We're still waiting for the chance to get her pups back from the Haunters, they were pup-napped. And as I said before, the white wolf on the hill is Jagged, my son." Now he lifted his voice for them all to hear. "Everyone, this is Cortinarri, the newest member of the Aspen Grove pack."

Jagged finally smiled at Cortinarri, with a nod of greeting. He now looked to the canines gathered, "The Shadow Lurkers have called upon us to hunt for them, as they are all injured and tired after the recent fight. We have had to oblige, because of our alliance. So, we shall ready ourselves for a hunt. Those who really can't come, will stay here, but I ask anyone who is able to come."

Vestige looked at Cortinarri, "They must be hurt if they're asking us to hunt for them. Oh well, I guess we can't really decline. Without them we don't stand much chance against the Haunters. Anyway, You coming?" For some reason, he just seemed to be able to talk to her, casually as if it just seemed to roll of his tongue. He hadn't done that in a while. He was totally relaxed in her company, something which rarely happened with new members.

Dove closed her eyes. "Then I suppose I have no choice but to come." The dog said before looking at her father. Glider nodded. "I will go." He sighed.

Silence ran to Cortinarri and yipped. "I'm Silence, daughter of Dove and Vicious!" The pup exclaimed. Dove cringed at Vicious' name.

He pulled his gray bod up near Vestige, at his mother's usual place, casting his eyes around again, worriedly. He said nothing, but watched... Kimama was right. Mother had not come back with them.

Still, he said nothing. Altan had grown to be the strong, silent type of wolven, and he kept his face completely clean of any thoughts that flittered through his brain. If no one had noticed, yet... then perhaps all would be well. Ma had tended to wander a lot recently, more than the pack knew, and more than her children admitted. She always just came back after a while. This time shouldn't be different...

He gave Kimama a half-smile of encouragement as she padded quietly in. The two had grown very close indeed: the only members left of a supremely divided and dysfunctional family. Three of two sisters and a brother had gone missing as pups, and their mother had written their imminent deaths on the account of the Haunters. Taini was out spying, and who knew if she'd come back, and now Ma had gone missing again. Slowly, Kimama trotted up beside Altan, and the two seemed to lean on one another for what little support they could offer. Kimama whispered in Altan's ear, a phrase of comfort meant for his ears alone. Darkfire's blessings ride with a hunt. Altan nodded, as she'd known he would, and they settled themselves, waiting for orders.

After a few hours of venting over the death of her brother, Blackfeather returned to the Aspen Grove. Kiku and Mikomi were not far behind. She had caught the last bit of the conversation - they were going on a hunt. "I'll come." The dark-colored wolfess said. The pups nodded in agreement. "We'll come too."

Kiku dreamt of the day he would hunt alongside his father, but now that day would never come. In a fit of rage, he struck out at his sister. "Hey!" Mikomi snapped. Kiku realized what he had done and stepped back. "Sorry...I-I didn't mean to."

Vestige was glad to see everyone willing to participate. However when Altan and Kimama arrived without their mother, he became worried. He turned to Altan, eyes narrowed in confusion. "Where's your mother?"

Altan turned to gaze at his alpha, and his sister felt the rush of sadness and concern that flooded through him. But though he managed to keep his face neutral, his voice had a tiny tremor in it. She... did not return from the last battle, sir. I... never saw her get there. It was said ever so soft, for Vestiges' ears alone, and the mask he wore altered for just a moment. He'd promised Taini that he'd look after mother, and... and now...

Kimama leaned against her brother for comfort, and turned her soft eyes to Vestige, voice soft and significantly more tremulous. Mama... she hasn't been herself recently, have you noticed? She keeps... watching over the shoulders of whoever she's talking to, blinking and then closing her eyes, or turning away. I hear her at night... when she thinks I'm asleep... talking to someone who isn't there... And she faded off, looking down. Her eyes were dry, but only through sheer determination.

Vestige realised that he hadn't actually seen Liseli at the battle, and the hurt that he could feel from her son and daughter made him realise that this was really serious.

He nodded, his voice dropping to a whisper that was full of concern and it was evident that he was worried. "Now that you mention it, I have seen her once or twice, looking at something that's not there. Acting as though she being followed, but shaking it off as nothing. I didn't think to ask her about it, I thought it might just be my imagination." He fell silent, looking to the ground through hardened eyes. "When she speaks to...this...thing, can you hear what she's saying, Kimama?"

Kimama gave Vestige the same soft eyes again, voice still softer. She... she calls it "Darkfire". Her voice was filled with horror, for this had been their aunt's nickname, and though she wasn't certain Ma had ever used this name in Vestige's hearing, it still ought to be pretty evident who she was speaking to. She speaks of... stars, and Risen... and many things that do not make sense, from the past, I think. I don't... I fear for her.

Altan gave his sister a nuzzle, seeing through her mask as easily as his own and knowing how much those words cost her.

For what felt like the thousandth time, he stumbled, cursing as his paw met with a hard surface. His nose went to work, feeling and smelling, and finally the familiar smell and texture of aspen wood identified his assailant: a dead tree stretched across his path. With a grunt, Eytan heaved himself over it, letting out a yip to call Liseli. After waiting several moments and receiving no response, he gave a slightly louder yip and began to carefully pick his way through the woods again, now calling loudly. Liseli! Kimama! Altan! Taini! Vestige! And those were all the names he could remember.

Blast it all, if he could see... but his eyes had been dark for nearly a fortnight now, and he feared that this time, they might be gone forever. Instead of letting this fear overtake him again, he continued to crash through the trees. Anyone at the gathering might hear him coming.

Vestige sighed. Risen. That name made his blood run cold. That savage monster with an army of mindless zombies casting terror throughout the valley. Power-hungry scum. "I believe it was Risen who killed your Aunt in a fight at the Eskers. I don't understand why your mother would be speaking of this though, she rarely mentions it. She doesn't even speak to me about it, and I was the only one there who is left in this pack..." He closed his eyes, the memories of that fight flashing back vividly. The memory that lingered longest however, was not of Sauda's passing, but of the time he had had Risen at his mercy. He could have killed her. There and then. Damn it! If he had, none of this would have happened!

"Your mother is strong, but I, too, fear for what is happening to her. Speaking about a painful subject to something that isn't there...Maybe it's some way of...getting rid of all the pain she's built up over the years. Whatever it is, I don't like the sound of it. I..."

The sound of crashing and cries in the air caught his attention. Vestige turned to see a figure stumbling towards them through the tree's. He heard his name called, and pricked his ears as he tried to distinguish the person who was calling to them. He had failed to hear Liseli's name called, so for a few moments his heart rose as he thought it could be her, but it sank when he realised it was Eytan. Don't give up hope, Vestige. Liseli wouldn't give up on you... The alpha smiled, unknowing that Eytan couldn't see anything, and yipped to catch his attention. "We're over here, Eytan!"

There... a voice. Not Liseli or her pups, but Vestige. Relief flooded his being, but the wind was against him and he could not catch their scents, so he called back, Keep talking!

Kimama's ears caught this odd request, but she let her voice come. Over here, Uncle! And she trotted toward the sound of his voice, coming up beside him with a half-smile. Long time no see, sir. Come along, we're over here.

His nose twitched frantically, and as Kimama's voice reached his ears and her scent his nares he relaxed, following the sound of her steps until he stepped into the clearing. Hello... But he did not greet anyone particular, because of course he could not see who was there. Rather, he turned toward Kimama, eyes gazing vaguely in her direction as he spoke. Is Liseli about? I... must speak with her.

Kimama's heart sank again at the mention of her mother, but her concerned eyes caught on Eytan: his eyes... they were usually so clear and crisp, and met hers with a definite strength. Now... they were vague and disoriented... almost like...